Belt guide



April 6, 1 937. H. M. (DSTERTAG BELT GUIDE 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Nov.19, 1934 RH QN Nu April 6, 1937. H. M. os'rETAs BELT GUIDE- Filed NOV.19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW fia/vyM Osicaricy April 6, 1937. MIOSTERTAG 2,076,413

. BELT GUIDE Filed Nov. 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 pr 1937- H. M.OSTERTAG 2,076,413

' BELT GUIDE Filed Nov. 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 6, 1937BELT GUIDE- Harry M. Ostertag, Neenah, Wis., assignor to Paper PatentsCompany; Neena'h,'Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application November19, 1934, Serial No. 753,609 10 Claims. (Cl. 74-3241) The presentinvention relates to a class of endless belt guides, the purpose orobject of which is to automatically correct a tendency of the belt torun oif-center; that is, to one side or the other wheel by a system oflevers which are .moved by the edge of the felt or wire. The parts, withthe exception of the ratchet wheel, are continuously in operation, anddue to their continuous of its true path of travel. The invention hasbeen operation, whether or not the felt or wire requires 5 designed byme more particularly for use on paper guiding, the joints and bearingsand other parts making and paper coating machines, as an adof the guideapparatus are continuously wearing, junct to the Fourdrinier wires,dryer felts, press and the fine adjustment necessary to good operfelts,and the like of such machines, but it is caation must be continuouslymaintained. The tips pable of useful application in any situation whereof the pawls and ratchet teeth also rapidly wear 10 it is desirable tomaintain an endless belt or the down and become .blunt. In the past ithas frelike of any character running substantially cenquently occurredthat when the felt or wire retral and true to its proper path of travel.quired guiding, the mechanical guides now in use In the case of papermachines equipped with have been unable to function properly, as theyvarious types of endless felts, wires, etc., it is have worn to a pointthat they could not do the 15 highly desirable to provide means toinsure the full amount of workfor which they were designed. felts andwires running continuously substan- The object Of the Present inventionis 130 (Wide tially central on the particular machine section or animproved and simplified belt guide of the type sections with which theyare associated. This is employing an angularly shiftable guide roll,and.

commonly accomplished by means of a roll to this end, and to avoid thedifficulties encoun- 2O termed a guide roll. The felt or wire issupporttered with a continuously operated mechanical ed by the guideroll and arrives at and leaves the guide, I have designed a guide whichis operated roll at slight angles to provide the required by a reversingelectric motor, the circuits of amount of contact or wrap on the roll tocause which are normally open so longas the beltis the roll to havesuflicient influence on the felt or running substantially true, saidmotor being 25 wireto hold it central on the machine. The geared to therotary screw that actuates the shifttheoretically correct position ofsuch a guide roll able bearing of the guide roll, and its circuits is,of course, with its axis exactly at right angles being momentarilyclosed when the belt runs offto the true path of travel of the felt orwire. center to one side or the other, by a switch that, in

One journal of the guide roll is supported on turn, is actuated tocircuit-closing position by a 30 the back side of the machine in abearing mountfeeler engaged with an edge of the belt. ed on a verticalpivot. The bearing of the front The present invention, its operativeprinciple journal of the guide roll is also pivoted vertically, andmanner of working, and the benefits and adand this front pivot isusually mounted on a slide vantages inherent therein will be readilyundermounted in guides to permit the bearing to move stood by personsskilled in the art from the fol- 35 forward or backward parallel to thecenter line lowing detailed description, taken in connection of themachine. This shifting of the angular with the accompanying drawings, inwhich Ihave position of the guide roll in the proper directionillustrated one practical and approved embodiacts to automaticallyreturn the sidewise running ment of the invention, and wherein felt orwire to central position. Fig. 1 is a top: plan View of the guide mecha-40 A common practice in the past has been to shift nism as applied, forexample, to a traveling felt the front bearing of the guide roll bymeans of a band of a paper machine. screw actuated in either directionby a ratchet Y Fig. 2 is avertical transverse section, on the line wheelon the screw by means of pawls which are 2-2 of Fig. 1. r v

so mounted as to not engage the ratchet wheel Fig. 3 is an enlargedvertical longitudinal sec- 45 when the felt or wire is running central,but tion, on the line 33 of Fig. 1. which are thrown into operativeengagement with I Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical transverse theratchet wheel so as to revolve the screw and. section, on the line 4-4of Fig. 1; 1 i thus shift the front bearing of the guide roll in Fig. 5is an enlarged detail vertical transverse the proper direction when thefelt or wire diverts section, on the line 55 of Fig. 1. 50

from the central operating position on the paper machine. Motion istransmitted to the pawls from an arm actuated by an eccentric on the endof the guide roll. The pawls are bodily moved into and out ofengagementwiththe ratchet Referring to the drawings, H1 and II designate front andrear frame members that may beconnected and spaced by a beam 12. On therear frame member H is mounted a pedestal l3, and

on the front frame member l O-is mounted a housing M on top of which isa slideway l5 in which is a slide l6. A rear bearing member I! ismounted by a vertical pivot |8 on the pedestal I3, and a similar frontbearing member 9 is swiveled on the threaded upper end of a pivot stud20 that is fitted to a hole in the slide l6, and formed with a nut 2|that bears against the underside of the slide l6. In the bearings l1 andI9 are supported the end journals 22 and 23 of the guide roll 24, overwhich roll passes the belt 25.

Referring to Fig. 3, to one end of the housing I4 is rigidly attached agear casing 26, in the side walls of which and in the opposite end wallof housing I4 is journaled a threaded shaft 21. On shaft 21 is a nut 28formed on its upper side with a round boss 29 having a hole to receivethe lower reduced end portion of the stud 20. Integral with the lowerside of the nut 28 is a depending boss 30 having a flat vertical frontface to which is secured a bracket 3| formed on its ends with forwardlyprojecting ears 312. The bracket 3| carries a pivot stud 33, on which ispivoted a depending sector-shaped plate 34 formed with an integralupwardly extending arm 35 above the 25 pivot 33. On the front face ofplate 34 are mounted on studs 35 a pair of angularly adjustable mercurytube electric switches 36 and 31, each containing a pair of spacedcircuit contacts 38, 39 and a body of mercury 40. The plate 34, equippedas above described has the function of a motorcontrolling member, aswill later appear.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, one end of the gear casing 25 supportsthe frame of an electric motor 4| of the reversing type, and thearmature shaft 42 is extended into and at its end journaled in the lowerportion of gear casing 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Fast on shaft 42is a worm 43 meshing with and driving a worm gear 44 that is fast on thethreaded shaft 21. This worm gearing constitutes a speed reducing andself-locking transmission from the motor 4| to the shaft 21.

Circuit leads 45 and 46 (Fig. 3), in which the contacts 38 and 39 areincluded, connect the field of the motor with a source of current, onelead,

45 when closed, driving the motor in one direction and the other, whenclosed, driving the motor in the reverse direction. Both leads are openwhen the belt 25 is running in or close to its normal central position.

Turning now to a description of the mechanism for automaticallymomentarily energizing the motor when the belt shifts too far edgewise,to thereby correct the position of the roll 24 by shifting its bearingI9, 41 designates a diagonal bracket 55 secured to and projectingrearwardly beyond one end of housing M (Fig. 1). As shown in Fig. 2,

the free end portion of this bracket, which lies substantially parallelwith the axis of roll 24, has

a longitudinal slot 48 through which extends a 60 clamp bolt 49 by whicha post 50 is adjustably mounted on the bracket 41. Post 50 carries avertically adjustable pivot stud 5| on which is pivoted at substantiallymidlength a feeler lever,

the upper arm 52 of which carries a hand 53,

65 the palm of which is polished and lies against an edge of the belt25. The lower arm 54 is pivoted at 55 to a link 56, and the other end ofsaid link is articulated at 51 to one arm 58 of an elbow lever, the hub59 of which is keyed to a vertical shaft 60 mounted in the arms GI and62 of a U-shaped bearing bracket 63 attached to the diagonal bracket 41,the hub being confined end- 1wise between said arms. The other arm 64 ofthe elbow lever has a slotted forked end that is 75 connected by a pivotpin 65 with one end of a rod 66 that, as best shown in Fig. 3, isslidably mounted in a pair of bearing sleeves 61 and 68 supported in theend walls of the housing l4. These bearing sleeves 61 and 68 extend somedistance inwardly of the housing for a purpose later disclosed. As bestshown in Fig. 4, the rod 66 extends between the arms of a yoke stud 69mounted on the rear side of the plate 34. Keyed to the rod 66 onopposite sides of the yoke stud 69 are collars I9 and 1|, and encirclingthe rod 66 are opposed light coil springs 12 and 13 which abut at theirouter ends against the collars I0 and H and at their inner ends againstwashers 14 and I5 that bear against opposite sides of the yoke head ofstud 69.

Referring to Fig. 3, keyed on the upper end of vertical shaft 69 is acollar 16, and encircling the shaft between said collar and the bracketarm 6| is a torsion spring 11, anchored at its upper end to collar 16and at its lower end to arm 6|. This spring 11 is under sufiicienttension to constantly lightly urge the hand of the feeler lever againstthe edge of the traveling belt 25. In the ears 32 are mounted stopscrews 78 that cooperate with arm 35 to limit the maximum swing of plate34 in an obvious manner.

Describing the operation, it may be assumed that in the position of theparts shown in Fig. 3 the belt is running substantially central or true,in which position the two oppositely acting springs 12 and 13 on rod 66hold the motorcontrolling plate 34 central or in a position where bothmotor circuits are open. If, now, the belt shifts edgewise toward theobserver, the feeler lever will be rocked in a direction to move rod 66to the right, and if the movement is sufficient to cause spring 13 totilt the plate 34 sufficiently to close the circuit through switch 31,the motor and screw will then shift the nut 28 a short distance to theright. This will correct the angular position of the guide roll 24, andthe belt will gradually shift back edgewise from the observer, and theplate 34 will by gravity resume its vertical or centered position sinceits suspension point 33 has been shifted to the right with the nut andthe center of gravity of the plate and its load (switches 36 and 31) isbelow the suspension point 33. If the belt creeps edgewise away from theobserver, the hand of the feeler lever, under the urge of spring H, willfollow the retreating edge of the belt, which action will move rod 66 tothe left; and if the movement is sufficient to cause spring 12 to tiltthe plate 34 sufficiently to close the other circuit through switch 36,the motor and screw will then shift the nut to the left, which willcorrect the angular position of the guide roll, and the belt will thengradually shift edgewise back toward the observer, and the plate 34 willagain by gravity resume its vertical or centered position. Thus anysubstantial divergence of the belt to either side from its central pathor a path parallel with and close to its central path, is automaticallycorrected, and the mechanism for effecting such correction is notcontinuously working and wearing out, but is called into action andfunctions only when it is needed.

The light springs 12 and 13 on rod 66 absorb slight reciprocatingmovements of the rod Without tilting the switch-carrier 34 sufficientlyto the extent of swinging or tilting movement of the switch carrier 34necessary to close a circuit can be varied by varying theangular set ofthe switches 36 and 31. 5 It may here be noted that the motor can neverjam the nut at the end of the screw by overtravel, since the collar or Hwould strike the inner end of the bearing sleeve 61 or 68 before the nutreached an end of the screw, and

10 the thrust of the spring 12 or 13 on the switch .plate 34 would bringthe latter to a vertical or centered position, and this would stop themotor.

Manifestly, if a condition tending to make the 15 belt drift or creepcontinually to one side exists permanently and is sufficientlypronounced, the position of the bearing l9 must be shifted permanently asufiicient distance to correct the drifting tendency. Hence, the centerline of the belt travel will be proportionately displaced. If thisdisplacement is only an inch or so, this is immaterial, so long as thereis no further drifting of the belt. However, if the permanent offcenterdisplacement of the belt becomes too pronounced, the belt may bere-centered in any convenient manner such as is customary in manuallycorrecting a drifting tendency. For example, another of the belt rollersmay have one of its end bearings similarly arranged for sliding movementwith manual rather than automatic control. The words drift or creep asused herein mean a continuous tendency to produce an accumulateddisplacement of the belt.

The arrangement constitutes in effect a form of servo-motor mechanism,but for a different purpose, since, whereas in the usual servo-motorarrangement it is desired to shift a remote or ponderous member to anydesired position cor responding with that of a primary controllingmember, in the present arrangement the position of the primarycontrolling member is merely incidental to the proper functioning of thecontrolling mechanism.

It is to be understood that the term belt as used herein is intended tocover any endless traveling member in the general nature of a belt orapron, such as the Fourdrinier wire or felts of a paper machine,conveyor belts, power-transmitting belts, etc., and is not limited tothe paper machine art, although it is contemplated that the chiefapplication of the improvement will be in the paper making and papercoating arts.

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claimswithout departing from its essential features, and the specification anddrawings are to be read as merely illustrative of one. embodiment of theoperative principle of the invention and not in a limiting sense, exceptas necessitated by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a belt guide of the character described, the combination of a beltguide roll, a bearing in which one end of said roll is journaled, amounting for said bearing, an electric motor geared to said mounting soas to effect a radial shift of one end of said roll relative to theother end of the roll, a switch plate pivotally suspended from 70 saidmounting, a mercury tube electric switch mounted on said plate, thecenter of gravity of said plate and switch being below the pivot of saidplate, a feeler for engaging the edge of the belt, and means operativelyconnecting said feeler with said plate.

2. In a belt guide of the character described, the combination of a beltguide roll, a bearing in which an end of said roll is journaled, a slideon which said bearing is mounted, a rotatable screw, a nut on said screwconnected to said slide, a reversible motor drivingly connected to saidscrew, a movable self-centering motor-controb.

ling member carried by said nut, a feeler springurged against an edge ofthe belt, operating connections between said feeler and saidmotorcontrolling member, and means rendered active by saidmotor-controlling member when moved a predetermined distance from. itscentral position for energizing said motor.

3. 'In a belt guide of the character described,

the combination of a belt guide roll, a bearing in which an end of saidrollis journaled, a slide on which said bearing is pivoted, a rotatablescrew, a nut on said screw connected to said slide, a reversible motordrivingly connected to said screw, a motor-controlling member pivotallysuspended from said nut, a feeler lever spring-urged against an edge ofthe belt, operating connections between said feeler lever and saidmotor-controlling member, and means rendered active by saidmotor-controlling member when swung a predetermined distance to one sideor the other of its central position for energizing said motor.

4. In a belt guide of the character described, the combination of a beltguide roll, a bearing in which an end of said roll is journaled, a slideon which said bearing is mounted, a rotatable screw, a nut on said screwconnected to said slide, a reversing electric motor geared to saidscrew, a movable self-centering motor-controlling member carried by saidnut, a feeler springurged against an edge of the belt, operatingconnections between said feeler and said motor-controlling member, andswitches carried by said motor-controlling member operative to close therespective motor circuits when said motor-controlling member is moved apredetermined distance from. its central position.

5. In a belt guide of the character described, the combination of a beltguide roll, a bearing in which an end of said roll is journaled, a slideon which said bearing member is pivoted, a r0- tatable screw, a nut onsaid screw connected to said slide, a reversing electric motor, aspeedreducing gear drive between said motor and screw, amotor-controlling member pivotally suspended from said nut, a feelerlever spring-urged against an edge of the belt, operating connectionsbetween said feeler lever and said motor controlling member, andswitches carried by said motor-controlling member operative to closethe. respective motor circuits when said motor controlling member isswung a predetermined distance from its central position.

6. In a belt guide of the character described, the combination of a beltguide roll, a bearing in which an end of said roll is journaled, a slideon which said bearing member is pivoted, a rotatable screw, a nut onsaid screw connected to said slide, a reversing electric motor, aspeedreducing gear drive between said motor and screw, amotor-controlling member pivotally suspended from said nut, a feelerlever spring-urged against an edge of the belt, operating connectionsbetween said feeler lever and said motor controlling member, and a pairof mercury tube electric switches mounted on said motor-controllingmember adapted to connect spaced contacts in lever and themotor-controlling member include a pair of opposed springs respectivelyacting to swing said motor-controlling member is opposite directions andpermitting suificient lost motion to prevent closing of a motor circuitunder slight edgewise displacement of the belt.

9. A specific embodiment of claim 5 wherein the operating connectionsbetween the feeler lever and the motor-controlling member include a rodmounted to slide in the direction of swing of said motor-controllingmember and extending past the latter, and a pair of light compressionsprings encircling said rod, said springs anchored at their outer endsto said rod and at their inner ends in thrust engagement with saidmotor-controlling member.

10. A specific embodimentof claim 6 wherein the mercury tube electricswitches are mounted on the motor-controlling member with capacity ofangular adjustment, whereby to vary the extent of swing of themotor-controlling member necessary to efiect the closing of a motorcircuit.

HARRY M. OSTERTAG.

